Middle school principals reject ‘Tom Sawyer’ as single ‘core’ text for eighth-grade English

A classic American novel taught for years to junior high students in Lawrence won’t become a mandatory text for eighth-graders now attending middle school.

Earlier this month, principals in the Lawrence school district’s four middle schools rejected a plan that would have designated Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” as the “core” text for eighth-grade language arts, as had been proposed by middle school teachers and endorsed by the district’s curriculum specialist for language arts.

While the book will remain available for use by language arts teachers, it will not be required reading for all eighth-graders — unless all teachers at that level opt to use it in their mandatory English classes.

Principals rejected the “Tom Sawyer” designation, citing concerns from some students and parents — particularly blacks and American Indians — regarding the book’s subject matter, language and themes. The book includes references to slavery and use of the “n-word,” and a prominent villain in the book is “Injun Joe,” a “half-breed” American Indian.

“I don’t think any of us are questioning the quality of ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ as a book,” said Myron Melton, principal at West Middle School. “We’re just looking at it through a different lens … one looking at equity in the district.

“We were getting a little bit uncomfortable as to whether this was a core book that appeals to a broad range of students across the district.”

Kim Bodensteiner, the district’s chief academic officer, said that the decision came amid the district’s ongoing efforts to educate and help district personnel deal with racial issues through a program known as “Courageous Conversations.”

The issue, she said: Many students of color in the district find themselves reading books and other materials that portray their ethnic groups during specific periods and in specific roles — such as blacks as slaves or in dealing with the civil rights movement. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” for example, is a book used in 11th grade.

Middle school principals have decided that “Tom Sawyer” doesn’t fit within the broad context identified for determining a core text for eighth-graders.

“It has not been removed as a book,” Bodensteiner said. “It doesn’t mean that ‘Tom Sawyer’ couldn’t and shouldn’t be included. It’s just a matter of whether we need to broaden the literature so that there is a respect for all of our students throughout history.”

But Kelly Barker, who teaches American history at Southwest Middle School, remains upset that the book did not achieve “core” status. He’s required, by the state, to teach his students about U.S. history from 1787 — when the Constitution was passed — until 1899.

Students reading “Tom Sawyer” in English then can come to history class and learn how the themes of slavery, U.S. expansion, border wars and other topics fit in with Twain’s book, published in 1876. Barker has been taking advantage of such synergies for all 15 years he’s been in the district.

It’s not easy, of course, but Barker figures students should be exposed to some of the transgressions of the past so that they can better understand what followed, what exists and what is to come.

“How do you explain to kids that what happened in 2008 — with Barack Obama being elected — is truly, completely and utterly historic if they can’t see what our society was in the 1830s, ’40s, ’50s, and what it continued to be through the 1880s, ’90s, Plessy v. Ferguson, ‘separate but equal’ and all that?” he said. “It is so difficult sometimes for our kids to wrap their heads around this.”

Susan Harris, a Twain scholar and Distinguished Professor of English at Kansas University, understands how principals might object to “Tom Sawyer” as a core text. The racial implication of Injun Joe, after all, is that “he’s a thief and a bad person because he’s Indian.”

But Harris applauds teachers such as Barker and others who approach the themes, issues and language of the book with more than the literal meanings of the words and descriptions alone.

“This needs to be taught, but it needs — as any historical novel needs — to be historicized,” Harris said. “Rather than the teacher setting out all the lessons, the teacher needs to be able to elicit student discomfort, and then find ways of helping the students understand where that discomfort comes from.

“With young students, we can’t whitewash history for them. It’s refusing to admit the ugliness in your history. If you refuse to admit ugliness in your history, then you’re doomed to repeat it.”

Principals understand why the majority of English teachers favor using “Tom Sawyer” as a core text, aside from its subject matter: The book includes “rich vocabulary” and other literary devices — alliteration, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, personification and on down the line — that make it “rich in (addressing) the state standards” in place for eighth-graders, said Will Fernandez, principal at South Middle School.

“That’s why they use it,” Fernandez said. “It’s all in there.”

And that’s why this week Fernandez is reading the book again, for the first time since “way back in the day,” during his own junior high years.

Next month, he and his fellow principals will gather for a meeting with their schools’ English teachers, to discuss the topic and try to identify an alternative story or letter or other writing to serve as a core text for eighth grade.

English teachers at his school already are preparing a presentation for why “Tom Sawyer” works for them. Now, having already heard from students and parents who object to the story, Fernandez wants to see for himself.

“It wasn’t offensive for me then,” he said, of junior high. “But this is 2011. I’ll read it and see if there’s any reason to take offense, from an adult standpoint.”

More like this story on LJWorld.com

Comments

Amazing how "political correctness" can close the mind and give our children an inferior education. We should read the books and address the issues in the classroom! Now liberals become the ones involved in a subtle censorship almost like "banning" a book??

hujiko - I agree with kansanjayhawk - He never said that the book was "banned" when you critized him for "clearly you didn't read the article". He (kansanjayhawk) said it was "subtle censorship almost like banning a book". The key words there were "almost like". He/she read the article, as did I. This is PC at its best. The want to change history because it didn't sit well with some folks. It was, what it was! We learn from that.

The article does not come right out and say the book is banned, but the implication is that any teacher choosing to use the book will not be given administrative support if the book is called into question by parents or other groups. Another fine example of how USD 497 is widening the trust gap with it's teachers.

:Kim Bodensteiner, the district’s chief academic officer, said that the decision came amid the district’s ongoing efforts to educate and help district personnel deal with racial issues through a program known as “Courageous Conversations.”

The issue, she said: Many students of color in the district find themselves reading books and other materials that portray their ethnic groups during specific periods and in specific roles — such as blacks as slaves or in dealing with the civil rights movement. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” for example, is a book used in 11th grade."

Dr. Harris hits the nail on the head when she says, "the teacher needs to be able to elicit student discomfort, and then find ways of helping the students understand where that discomfort comes from." A book like Tom Sawyer, properly historicized, is a great tool for this purpose.

However well-meaning, the notion of "Courageous Conversations" makes a mockery of this decision -- of no courage at all. Tom Sawyer is a great 8th grade book, which should be a core text, not for its minimal racial issues, but for its exploration of humanity. A alternative text? Please. Let's hope that all 8th grade English teachers use this book and that all 8th grade students benefit from its richness and imagination. (And how many of the principals actually read this short book before making this careless decision?)

"Those who fail to remember the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them - George Santayana

"Damned muslims are out to destroy the country, they are responsible for our present problems" Heard today from various sources
"Damned Jews are a problem for the country, we need a final solution" - Adolf Hitler

I had to read S E Hinton's books and I couldn't relate, because I wasn't poor and I didn't hang out on the streets at night. But that doesn't mean I wasn't smart enough (as most kids are) that it was a story, a different way of life, but still about people, kids nonetheless.

Twain may have written the book originally for 5th grade, but the archaic language makes it a difficult read for 8th grade students. The richness of the language is what makes this book a must read for any student and the uncomfortable feelings this book evokes is a bonus in this lackadaisical society.

I started this thread from the bottom up, and pointed out the same thing! I believe I read 'Tom Sawyer' as a 4th grader. And, I know I read 'Huckleberry Finn' before I was in 8th grade.

But, I'm an exceptional case. I had a problem in that I read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' on my own in 8th grade. The following year, I was required to read it again, for 9th grade English class. Then we moved to Colorado, and I had to read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' AGAIN!

After reading the book for three consecutive years, I knew it rather well.

Huckleberry Finn is taught as the core text in 11th grade American Lit I classrooms at both high schools. Teachers, because we are educated, conscientious, and courageous, facillitate conversations about race when we teach this text because English classrooms are not just places for learning text features, plot structure, and character development, but literature is also a vehicle by which humanity begins to discover the truths about itself.

This decision is disappointing in large part because core text decisions are--historically--made by groups of teachers who review texts and determine which ones are the most appropriate in terms of content, grade level, and ability level. Those groups of teachers have classroom and curriculum development experience and are aware of the scope and sequence of courses in the district, and therefore are more qualified to make text choice decisions than principals.

Finally, if this decision is couched as one stemming from the district's "Courageous Conversation" initiative, it is counterintuitive. Removing a text that contains negative racial stereotypes--and thus allows for excellent classroom conversations about historical relevance and evolution of language--does nothing for furthering an understanding of how to combat and converse about race; it removes opportunities to do so and sells students and teachers short.

I absolutely agree with your post. It's important to teach our children about America's journey through racism and "Tom Sawyer" provided an excellent opportunity to do just that. It appears to me that the principals of Lawrence's schools are attempting to cover up this ugly, but factual account of 19th century American life, preferring instead to present our children with the lies which please everyone.

“We were getting a little bit uncomfortable as to whether this was a core book that appeals to a broad range of students across the district.”

Assuming that this principal was quoted accurately and meant what he said, the implication is that core curriculum has little to do with what's important for students to learn and everything to do with what "appeals" to them.

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" was proposed to be the core text. Now, there is no core text. Teachers will be meeting with principals next month to consider alternatives to "Tom Sawyer."
- Mark Fagan,
Schools reporter

It appears to me that the school is saying we can't handle communicating history in an honest manner. Slavery happened and white settlers took land away from Native Americans. You can then place today in perspective against yesterday. This is teaching to me. Maybe we should build another football field everyone likes that!

I'm not a scholar, but I think kids can read books like Tom Sawyer outside of school and have discussions with their parents and still learn something. I guess my point is that if a middle school student reads 8 books a year, that is still only 24 books over the 3 years they are at the middle school. Good books are going to get left out. It seems to me like their are thousands of good books, and they are trying to choose which ones they can teach to match curriculum the best. No matter what book they decide they can't teach as a core book, people would be upset because they are not teaching a classic. Just trying to keep it in perspective. Good day!!

Mark Fagen @ LJWorld: it would be helpful to know what books were considered "core" so we have something to base a comparison. There are only so many books an 8th grader can read during the school year -- if I knew what books were still required and what other titles were optional, I might be able to make an educated comment, rather than jump to conclusions and make moronic trollisms.

As I understand it there is no "core" text for eighth-grade, at least not yet. The district is working to assign core texts, one for each grade. For eighth-grade, English (language arts) teachers had chosen "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Principals disagreed. Now, the two groups plan to meet in November to discuss alternatives.
- Mark Fagan
Schools reporter

Fantastic. We should continue to dumb down the public education system. Who needs cultural literacy? We wouldn't want any of our precious snowflakes to feel any sort of discomfort or have to read anything that isn't appealing. Perhaps the district can switch to books on tape to avoid the hassle of reading and that Dragon software so the kids don't injure themselves typing.

Those reading lists need to be updated to meet the needs and understanding of the generations that are reading them. I didn't like Tom Sawyer when I read it but I did like To Kill a Mockingbird but that was in the 60's. When I read Shakespeare I didn't understand it, and in most cases still don't because of the language. There are tons of great books and just because they don't choose Tom Sawyer or anything by Mark Twain is not a big deal in my own opinion.

That would be fine if there were separate literature and grammar classes, but there are not. One English class per year. All smushed together. Plus, teaching writing/grammar out of the context of practical application (reading and responding: composition) is fruitless. Sentence drills fail.

Funny "To Kill A Mockingbird" was referenced above. When I lived in Santa Cruz, California, it also came on the "burn list" for public education for the exact same reasons Tom Sawyer is now expendible.

What's the point of Martin Luther King day? There never was evil if we chose to forget about it. and MLK brought toys to all the good little girls and boys, didn.t he?

My husband and I were talking about this issue: Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and To Kill a Mockingbird. (Caveat: I have reread To Kill a Mockingbird very recently. I have not read Tom Sawyer in say 35 years and the last time I read Huck Finn was perhaps 25 years ago).

All three books contain a fair number of words that are offensive. To Kill a Mockingbird, however has an obvious point of view about race. The most racist characters in the book are clearly the Ewells who are portrayed as ignorant white trash who are nevertheless able to victimize a black man because of his kindness AND his race. The moral point of view is very clear.

Huck Finn is satire and very complicated satire at that. Huck's travel companion, Jim (a "run away slave") is not well educated, easily duped, and if you are not an astute reader, the satire could be misconstrued. I don't have very clear memories of the book Tom Sawyer. But, I remember it to be much more of a straight forward narrative that includes a fair amount of bigoted language and negative racial stereotypes (e.g., Injun Joe).

When we are talking derisively about hurt feelings and worrying about being politically correct, are we thinking about this from the point of view of the American Indian kids and the African American kids? I know it is fashionable to slough this off and talk about it as though this were coming from a bunch of oversensitive liberal white people sitting around trying to find ways to take offense. But, it sounds like there are serious concerns from Indian/Af Am communities about the way these books have been handled.

In my experience as a high school teacher it was not liberals who tried to ban or remove books. It was not a liberal father who called me and said his son (a junior in high school) had to "opt out" of reading Richard Wright's seminal novel, Black Boy, because "He don't need to be readin' 'bout those people."

It was not the liberals who came up with the classkc.org website in an effort to whitewash the Blue Valley School District's reading curriculum.

So we are 2 months into the semester and they haven't decided what are the core books for 8th grade and won't until November? This strikes me as another example of rushing too fast into the reconfiguration and not giving time to work out the important details. Or perhaps things like curriculum and assessment methods (standards based grading) are too trivial to concern the board office as they blindly push forward their agenda without consulting stakeholders.

Ding ding ding ding. We have a winner. How correct you are about lack of preparation from the leaders of our schools. They have their agendas and be damned if anything or anyone is going to keep them from it. While we are at it how about we talk about standards based grading. What a joke.

"Next month, he and his fellow principals will gather for a meeting with their schools’ English teachers, to discuss the topic and try to identify an alternative story or letter or other writing to serve as a core text for eighth grade"

Why is there just one core book for each grade. There should be many more as we should be encouraging our students to flea their mindless video games and pick up a good book. Pick up ten good books. Read Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, and To Kill A Mockingbird and Call of the Wild, and Lord of the Flies and Merchant of Venice, and The Dairy of Anne Frank and and and ...